miles



United States Patent NOISE-MAKING TOY DEVICE Richard D. Miles, Kutztown, Pa.

Application December 3, 1954, Serial No. 472,851

2 Claims. (Cl. 46-175) The present invention relates to a noise-making toy device for attachment to a shoe on a persons foot for simulating the noise of a galloping horse.

The present invention relates to a noisemaking device in the form of a pair of spurs having a means for simulating the noise of a galloping horse when the spur engages and disengages the ground.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sturdily construction noise-making device capable of withstanding the abuse of hard play of children, and one simulating the noise of galloping hooves of horses and other animals upon engagement with the ground.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for simulating a sound of hoofbeats for use by dancers, pantomimists, and others.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top-plan view of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a side view in elevation of the present invention showing the shoe and foot of a wearer,

Figure 3 is an end view partially in cross-section on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a partial view partially in cross-section on line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is an end view partially in cross-section on line 5-5 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 is a detailed view of a portion of the invention.

Referring in more detail to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the invention consists of a support member having a base 10 with a forwardly sloping portion 11 and providing a support for a bifurcated plate 12 which has an upstanding leg portion 13.

The plate 10 has downwardly bent side edge portions 14 and 15, the former having a slot indicated by the reference numeral 16 in Figure 5, and the plate being formed with a further slot indicated by the reference numeral 17 in the same figure through which extend a strap 18 anchored at its mid-length by the bolt 19, washer 20, and nut 21, which forms a locking assembly for holding a circuit L-shaped plate 22 between the legs of the plate 12. A pair of plates 23 and 24 overlie the outer sides of the plate 22 and 12, respectively, and have inwardly formed shoulders 25 and 26, respectively. The shoulders 25, 26 form with the upper ends of each of the plates 22 and 12 a pair of recesses in which are pivotally mounted the intermediate portions of each of the legs of a spur 27.

Pins 28 and 29 project into each of the recesses to pivotally support the legs of the spur 27.

As shown in Figure 4, the upper end of the upstanding leg portion 13 of the plate 12 is rounded over to provide a relatively large are of movement of the legs of the spur 27.

The upstanding leg of the plate is similarly shaped.

The base 10 also has an upwardly and rearwardly bent 2,735,220 Patented Feb. 21, 1956 portion 28, as seen in side view in Figure 2 at the end of which is a spring 29 secured by one end of the portion 28 and by the other end to an ofiset arm 30 connected to the leg 31 of the spur 27.

Referring to Figure 3, a pair of hardwood blocks 32 and 33 are secured in the base 10 and the base portion 28, respectively.

As seen most clearly in Figures 2 and 3, the hardwood blocks 32 and 33 constitute anvil members between which is mounted a hammer member 34 by means of an L-shaped spring 35 secured to the upstanding portion of the base 10 so that the hammer member may reciprocate .between the anvil members when engaged by the free end of the offset arm 30 upon upward and downward movement of the spur 27.

The upward and downward movement is indicated in Figure 2 by the reference numerals 27 and 27', referring to the spur 27.

It is intended that the base 10 be positioned transversely ahead of the heel of a shoe as indicated by the reference numeral 36 as shown in dotted line in Figure 2 as worn by the foot 37, in this case the right foot of a person. It is understood that the components of the present invention may be constructed in a similar fashion and arranged for wearing on the left foot of a person. The strap 18 is indicated in Figure 2 at 18', and is shown in dotted lines. The plates 12 and 22 are movable toward and away from each other to accommodate shoes of diiferent widths, it being understood that the legs of the spur 27 are resilient and tend to separate one from the other, permitting the outwardly and inwardly adjustment of the plate 12 and 22 relative to each other.

Referring to Figure 3, the portion 28 of the base 10 has its lower outside edge bent as indicated by the reference numeral 37 to form further ground-engaging means and providing support for the base 10 within the instep of the shoe.

Also shown in this figure is the concave upper and lower faces of the hammer member 34 which provide a hollow sound when they come in contact with the confronting faces of the blocks 32 and 33. While the blocks 32 and 33 have been described as being constructed of hard wood, other material is contemplated, such as plastic, light-weight metal, and other material which may prove to give off a satisfactory sound simulating a hoofbeat when struck by the hammer member 34.

Similarly, the base 10 with its associated plates can be constructed of light-weight metal, plastic, or other satisfactory material and means (not shown) is intended to be used to secure the upper ends of the strap 18 above the instep of the foot.

While only a single embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, other embodiments and modifications may be made and practiced within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A noise-making device comprising a support member for attachment to a shoe on a persons foot, a spur connected intermediate of its end to said support member for movement of one end of said spur upwardly and downwardly upon engagement and disengagement of said one end of said spur with the ground during walking or running movements of the person, spring means carried by said support member at its other end operatively connected with said spur for biasing said spur into its ground engaging position, and noise-making means carried by said support member and engageable with said other end of said spur for effecting actuation of said noise-making means upon movement of said one end of said spur between its upward position and it downward position.

2. A noise-making device comprising a support member for attachment to a shoe on a persons foot, a spur connected intermediate of its end to said support member for movement of one end of said spur upwardly and downwardly upon engagement and disengagement of of said one end of said spur with the ground during walking or running movements of the person, spring means carried by said support member at its other end operatively connected with said spur for biasing said spur into its ground engaging position, and noise-making means carried by said support member and engageable with said other end of said spur for efiecting actuation of said noise-making means upon movement of said one end of said spur between its upward position and its downward position, said noise-making means including a pair of anvil members and a reciprocally-mounted hammer member disposed between said anvil members and engageable alternatingly therewith when engaged by said other end of said spur.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 616,458 Fougereau Dec. 27, 1898 847,240 Chamberlain Mar. 12, 1907 2,320,560 Braddock June 1, 1943 

